It combines a powerful melancholic crescendo with a rich poetic account of the exploits of sailors on shore leave in Amsterdam.

[1] It was one of the songs Mort Shuman translated into English for the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

More recently, Amanda Palmer has performed the original French version in her live solo show with Jason Webley playing accordion.

Irish cabaret singer Camille O'Sullivan performs a cover of the song as part of her show with the Spiegeltent.

The song was also included as a bonus track on the 2001 reissued CD set of the 1975 live album, An Evening With John Denver.

The bonus track performance was taken from John's concert on August 14, 1973, at the Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.